'January 19, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



59 



ooastitution, reqairing bat little care in their management 

 beyond providing a suitable pen for keeping them dry and clean, 

 and then, with ordinary attention, they will thrive and prove 

 prolific birds, and good also to rear their young. Plenty of 

 space should always be given, and all nooks and corners avoided, 

 lest they should crush, break, fringe, or wholly destroy their 

 tails. Brick nests on the floor have been found most suitable 

 for these birds. They seldom fly much and cannot fly long ; 

 and whatever may have been said about their aerial rudder, 

 powers of locomotion, or high flying under exceptional circum- 

 stances, we know well from experience that good Fantails 

 cannot and will not fly much, but that they are the tamest and 

 perhaps the most tractable of all Pigeons. 



At present the recognised varieties of Fantails are Wliite, 

 Slue, Silver, Black, Red, and Yellow. Splashed and Saddle- 

 backed ones are numerous, but are only looked upon as mon- 

 grels. It is a rare occurrence to find two of these latter kinds 

 alike. There are also Fiizded and Silky Fantails. White 

 Fantails are by far the most numerous, and amongst them are 

 unquestionably to be found the best specimens. 



The general properties or qualities of the Fautail are briefly 

 summed up as follows, which, with the aid of our engraving, 

 we hope will be suiSciently clear to elucidate our views. The 

 head of the Fantail should be plain — capped ones were once 

 numerous, but are now almost disregarded. The head partakes 

 somewhat of the ordinary elongated shape of the common 

 Dove Pigeon, but with a sudden rise from its small wart or 

 nostril covers to the top of its head, and then as sudden a re- 

 oedenoe to its neck, which should be slender and of a nice 

 symmetrical curve. The breast mast be very prominent; the 

 shoulders or wing-butts generally hidden from view ; the iDings 

 should suddenly slope from their sockets, and just meet at 

 their tips behind the bird, and trailing, or nearly so, upon the 

 ground ; the back is very short, as a result of the neck and 

 base of the tail coming in contact; the tail should be large 

 and wide-spread, in form three-fourths of a circle, and pos- 

 sessed of three rows of broad feathers, about forty-two in 

 number. The bird must not throw backward its head so as to 

 protrude behind, and thus divide its tail. To fanciers more 

 accustomed to other varieties forty-two feathers for a tail may 

 seem a great many, and so, indeed, they are ; but we have known 

 a Fantail to have forty-eight tail feathers, but we prefer a bird 

 possessing qualifications even in a less degree, but in all its 

 integral parts, rather than having solely a preponderating 

 number of tail feathers at the sure sacrifice of an erect car- 

 riage, without which many essential and minor points are en- 

 tirely lost. Our engraving shows the desired combination. 



The tail should not only be of a three- fourths circular form, 

 but should slightly incline over the back, but not be aside, nor 

 should it too much overhang, otherwise by its weight the bird's 

 wings are uplifted, the body hanging forward, and the general 

 appearance spoilt. 



The eye of the White Fantail is dark hazel ; the legs rather 

 short ; the beak and nails pinkish white ; legs anifeet coral red. 

 To admirers of the expansive, many, and broad-feathered 

 " fan " at any cost, we would again observe that such a point 

 is very desirable, but in our admiration of such a good point 

 we must not forget the proud tip-toe strut, the graceful carriage, 

 and nervous shake, so characteristic of a good Fantail, and 

 without which the largest "fan" cannot be effectively dis- 

 played. We have had under our notice too many distorted 

 ^specimens — toppling forward, and crouching beneath the weight 

 of their bulky tails, their breasts in close proximity to the 

 ground, their pinions crossed and pointing skyward — to adopt 

 «uch point only as our standard. We should endeavour, as far 

 as possible, to obtain the embodiment of all the essential quali- 

 ties, of which good carriage plays so important a part ; it is the 

 means by which other good qualities are exhibited to advantage. 

 Blue Fantails are far less numerous than the White, and, as 

 a rule, cannot be procured of such quality. The majority of 

 Blues are of a dingy hue, but there are now many excellent 

 Blue Fans of a good clear colour. Blue Fantails should be of 

 a good, bright, uniform colour, the head and neck feathers of 

 a little darker tint. Across the upper coverts (as in Blue 

 Pigeons generally) there are two black bars ; a rim of black is 

 also upon the tail near to its extremity. The eye of the Blues 

 must be pearl, the beak and nails dark. 



Black Fantails should be of one uniform tone, and as near 

 as possible jet black ; but as yet this desirable object is only 

 occasionally attained. They are much too frequently produced 

 of a bluish black, with oftentimes a faint indication of a bar, 

 which is objectionable, and conclusively shows a cross with a 



coloured specimen, and however desirable such cross may be 

 to perfect other points, colour must assuredly sufl'er. 



The general properties of Blues, Silvers, Blacks, Yellows, 

 Reds, Frizzled, and Liced Fantails are much alike ; indeed, 

 they should all answer the one general description. Colour of 

 eye and featliering in each of the five first named constitute the 

 differences, and denote the variety to which the birds belong. 

 Red and Yellow Fantails are very scarce. They should be of one 

 even colour, or " self-coloured," and must be free from the 

 slaty grey too frequently visible upon most varieties termed 

 self-coloured. They are held of little value unless they are 

 pure and uniform in colour throughout their feathering. The 

 Reds and Yellows, also, seldom have such expansive tails or such 

 broad feathers as the other kinds ; their tails are more fre- 

 quently of the tundish or shuttlecock shape, and in conse- 

 quence are not so attractive as the Whites and Blues, but still 

 they command attention from their novel appearance. Silvers 

 are much like the Blues, presenting the appearance of a nearly- 

 washed-out blue, save the bar and lower portion of hackle, 

 which is dark — nearly black. 



The eyes of the Blues, Silvers, Blacks, Yellows, and Reds 

 should be of a pearlish colour. Good yellow-eyed birds are nu- 

 merous in each variety (save Whites), but pearl eyes for Blues, 

 Blacks, and Silvers should always be preferred. Of Yellows 

 and Rsds we are not so particular, but would prefer ijcarl. 



Frizzled Fantails are scarce. They may be described as 

 White Fans with their feathers turned upside down, Silky Fan- 

 tails also present a singular appearance. They much resemble 

 an ordinary specimen partially dried after a bath, but yet have, 

 as their name denotes, a nice silky appearance. Good speci- 

 mens are of a darkish tint on the eye, wattle, and nostril. 



These two last-named varieties are extraordinary-looking 

 birds, command a high price, and attract great attention at our 

 public exhibitions from their very singular and rare appearance. 



— BiRMIXGHAil COLUMBABIAN SoCIETY. 



RABBITS AT THE COMING COLCHESTER AND 

 PORTSMOUTH SHOWS. 



One of the most pleasing features of the Colchester Show to me, 

 being a Rabbit-fancier, is the sum of £12, oifered for the four classes 

 of Rabbits, being the largest amount ever yet given. I am glad to 

 see that the claims of the Variety classes to be placed on an eqnal 

 footing with the Lops have not been overlooked, the handsome prizes 

 of iOs. and 20s. being allotted to all the classes. The Rabbits are to 

 be penned singly. The entries are only 25. Gd. per pen. I shall enter 

 as many as possible, I have also before me the prize list of the 

 coming Portsmouth Show. Supported as it is by so many of the 

 nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood, and above all patronised 

 by the fair sex, I cannot congratulate the Committee so warmly as I 

 have done that of the Colchester Show. Five classes of Lops are 

 to receive 155. and 5s. There is only one class for Any variety, and 

 one prize of lOs. The entrance fee in all cases being 2s. 6d. per 

 pen contrasts very unfavourably with Colchester. It cannot be just 

 to award ten prizes to Lops and only one inferior prize to the Variety 

 classes, and still charge the same entrance fee. — S. Gr. Hudsom, Szdl. 



Torquay Poultkt Show. — The prizes offered are very 

 liberal ; there are three unusually valuable silver cups, and four 

 prizes in each class, varying from £4 to 10s., and for Pigeons 



f2and£l. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Plymouth Show (An Exhibitor). — The subject, we think, needs no 

 further comment. Reports are not usually subjects for criticism. 



Breeding Golden-pencilled Hamburghs (0. P. Q.). — No one is so 

 well able as yourself to judge of the bifds you should mate. We can only 

 answer for age, and we advise you to put a cockerel and a hen together, 

 tflkini? care that the last possesses all the points you require, and that 

 the first has no real defect. The grizzled tail is a gi'eat defect, and the 

 pencillings should not go round the feather— that has a tendency to pro- 

 duce mossy plumage. With such a hen you should put a scrupulously 

 correct cock. 



Unfertile Eggs iPoussin).—The result you complain of is not un- 

 common so early in the season and during very inclement weather. We 

 should set her nest eggs with confidence. Frost causes the yolk and 

 white of the egg to mingle. When one becomes rotten life has to an 

 extent been developed and afterwards allowed to perish ; hence corrup- 

 tion. Those you found unturned and totally unchanged are termed 

 " clear eggs," and are such as are produced where heus and puUets only 

 are kept. Such eggs are frequently met with in the winter. Temperature 

 has much to do with it. It will not occur again. 



Fowls under Trees (H. .^).— We fear the confinement has done the 

 mischief. There is nothing in their run to cause it, but if there be a 

 time of ye.ir when it is likely to be unhealthy it is now. Snow is always 

 trying, and rain with cold winds causes colds. Catch all that are running 

 at'the nostril and confine them. Let only the healthy keep about, If all 



